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Michele C.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Americans living in the Northeast and upper Midwestern states have the highest prevalence of Lyme disease. Banfield Pet Hospital observed a similar geographic trend in pets, determining that pets living in the Northeastern states have the highest risk of contracting Lyme disease. (The five highest-risk states are New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Connecticut, and Pennsylvania.)

Lyme disease is caused by a type of bacteria (Borrelia burgdorferi), and spread through the bite of an infected deer tick. Since 2009, there’s been a 21 percent increase of Lyme disease in dogs, corresponding to a similar increase in tick infestation over the same period. Transmission occurs when the tick attaches and feeds on an animal or person’s blood over the course of 24 hours, allowing the bacteria to enter the bloodstream. The report from Banfield states, “While the bacteria cannot be transmitted directly from pet to owner, pets with access to the outdoors can bring an infected tick into the home or yard, thereby increasing the chance of humans (and indoor cats) coming into contact with an infected tick.”

Signs to Look For

For dogs, the most common sign of Lyme disease is recurrent lameness caused by inflammation of the joints, but may also include fever, decrease in activity level and appetite, and in rare cases, acute kidney disease. Exposure to the Borrelia bacteria can be detected by a veterinarian using a blood test; however, many dogs that test positive may never develop clinical signs of the disease.

Preventing Lyme Disease

As a pet owner, you can protect your dogs and cats from Lyme disease by regularly checking them for ticks—especially right after your pet comes in from the outside. Veterinarians at Banfield Pet Hospital suggest talking to your pets’ veterinarian to get recommendations to help you select from a wide variety of sprays, solutions, and protective collars.

If you are unsure of what to use or are reluctant to use harsh chemicals on your pets, talk to your pets’ veterinarian. Banfield veterinarians also recommend these non-chemical precautions:

Michele C. Hollow writes about pets and wildlife for Parade and other national publications. She is the author of The Everything Guide to Working with Animals and the creator of the animal advocacy blog Pet News and Views. You can follow her on Twitter.

AMG/Parade Digital

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